QOTFC
The Clinical Educator's Resource Kit

Reflective Practice and Self-Evaluation

Another valuable vehicle for learning is the practice of active reflection. Whilst feedback tends to promote skill acquisition and competency, reflection leads to individual growth and interpretation of the greater meaning and implications of an experience or action. It is important to establish a reflective atmosphere with your student (Branch & Paranjape, 2002).

The following methods encourage student engagement in reflective practice:

Use of a reflective journal and self-evaluative tools

Where the student can write their feelings down and analyse their actions, as well as make future action plans for improvement (Reid & McKay, 2001)

Peer learning

Through discussion and interaction with peers (particularly advantageous for students participating in the multiple mentoring or collaborative placement models) students can identify areas of strength and limitation as well as draw on one another to find solutions to problems, to share resources and to learn through shared experiences (Reid & McKay, 2001). Peer learning can be encouraged by involving students in group, as well as individual, supervision sessions.

De-briefing

This is an effective way of providing immediate support to the student through engagement in formal structured reflection of actions and incidents after they have occurred (generally within 12 to 48 hours). De-briefing can occur either as a group or individual process (Reid & McKay, 2001; Boudreaux & McCabe 2000; Partnerships against Domestic Violence, 2004).

Instances when formal de-briefing may be helpful include: following the students' interaction with a particularly challenging client; where emotional factors heavily influence the client's experience of disability, illness or therapy or when a client has died or behaviour has been alarming. Debriefing should be provided in a safe environment that encourages open expression and normalising of emotional, cognitive and physical reactions to an incident, whilst encouraging positive reactions and discouraging irrational or negative thinking. It is a useful forum for planning any further support or actions required by the student to process the incident (Partnerships against Domestic Violence, 2004). Formal debriefing is a chance for the student to process in depth, what has occurred and his/her responses to the situation, to reflect on what could have been done differently and any resources needed, as well as to consolidate knowledge and to link theory and practice and ideal service delivery to reality in practice (Alsop & Ryan, 1996 in Reid & McKay, 2001; Partnerships against Domestic Violence, 2004).

Ideally, this style of formal de-briefing should be led by a peer leader or health professional with training in the debriefing process, who is supported by the clinical educator (Boudreaux & McCabe 2000).

Exchange of Feedback

The student received constructive feedback and has opportunity to provide the clinical educator or supervisor with feedback regarding their experiences of, and contributing factors to, learning in the clinical context.

Strategies for Promoting Active Reflection and Self-evaluation

create time for planned reflection

use "How?" rather than "Why?" reflections.

provide tools for reflective practice: reflective worksheets, systematic questions, the use of an experiential learning diary

encourage use of different modalities: writing, drawing, verbal sharing of thoughts, feelings and responses.